Iconic guitars from rock legend Jeff Beck are set to be showcased in London before heading to auction. The renowned auction house Christie’s previewed the collection this week, which includes 90 guitars and many other items that once belonged to Beck, who passed away in January 2023 at the age of 78.
Starting Wednesday, the public will have the chance to view these remarkable pieces until the auction, scheduled for January 22. Beck, often revered as “the ultimate guitarist’s guitar hero,” was part of a legendary group of 1960s rock icons, alongside names like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. He was recognized twice by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, first with his band the Yardbirds and later as a solo artist.
The collection is valued at over 1 million pounds (approximately $1.2 million). Among the highlights is a 1954 Gibson Les Paul guitar with an oxblood color, which Beck purchased in Memphis in 1972 and used extensively throughout the decade. This guitar is featured on the cover of his Grammy-winning album “Blow by Blow” and is expected to fetch between 350,000 and 500,000 pounds ($425,000 and $610,000) at auction.
Other notable items include a hybrid Telecaster-Gibson, known as the “Tele-Gib,” estimated to sell for between 100,000 and 150,000 pounds ($122,000 and $183,000), and Beck’s 1954 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster, valued at 50,000 to 80,000 pounds ($61,000 to $98,000).
Beck’s widow, Sandra Beck, expressed the emotional toll of selling the collection, stating it was a “massive wrench” but felt that Jeff would have wanted her to share his legacy and love for music.
